Support, connect and inspire – these are just some of the many tasks of the Student Delegation at the University of Luxembourg. As elected representatives of the students, the members of the delegation advocate in matters of teaching and administration on the University Council, Board of Governors, as well as the Inclusion and Appeals Committees.
The new delegation, whose mandate began in November 2022, has set itself three priorities centred around housing, events and dialogue with students. While the University of Luxembourg is committed to building new residences, the housing situation for students on the private market remains challenging. In May, the Student Delegation, in collaboration with the Cohabit’Age association, organised the Intergenerational Speed Dating to give participants the opportunity to meet senior citizens who are offering a room at a reasonable price.
The current delegation has followed in the footsteps of its predecessors by launching a petition to “make housing more accessible,” as the student delegate Jinyuan Wang explains.
The president of the delegation Max Bintener considers it a priority to “support student life and simply talk about existing issues at the University.” The delegation assists the Office of Student Life in supporting the University’s various associations, clubs and their initiatives. They give them a voice on the various boards and committees, while also organising get-togethers so that students can connect, exchange and learn from each other. Plans for 2023 include an event themed around sustainability and a new edition of the successful Speed Dating.
Communication is the key here, given that the Student Delegation acts as the voice of the students. They actively engage with students by informing them about decisions made by the University administration either via social media or emails while at the same time being open to suggestions and proposals. “My main motivation is to make the delegation a more present body in the lives of students, to make it more accessible and to better listen to their concerns. Only in this way can we really make a difference,” says Joana Pereira, responsible for communication and marketing in the delegation. In their role as representatives, they want to use their voice to inspire and encourage students to come forward and get involved in shaping the future path of the University – together.
Picture Caption from left to right: Aswathy Kokkottil Sudevan, Jinyuan Wang, Leonid Gnutov, Max Bintener, Ulisse Saverio, Joana Pereira, Samuli Riikonen, Jacqueline-Irene Ndombo